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Here they are, the 59 hottest cars, trucks, and concepts headed your way in 2006 and beyond. and if you can’t find anything you want to beg, borrow, or steal the keys for on the next 50 pages, check IF you still have a pulse.

Eighties punk group the Dead Milkmen used to sing about “doughnuts on your lawn” in their song “Bitchin’ Camaro,” even though Chevy‘s original ponycar had become, by that time, a bloated, post-fuel-crisis anachronism often found in the driveways of mullet-haired metalheads–something Beavis and Butthead aspired to drive.

When it met its timely demise in 2002, it was all that, with two decades of nondevelopment tacked on. Still, Chevrolet called its dismissal a hiatus, and the rank-and-file faithful inside and outside GM began drawing their versions of “the new Camaro” on the backs of notebooks.

Even if this broad-shouldered sport coupe didn’t have a badge on it, you’d guess it as some sort of Infiniti G35. Though badged a concept, the Infiniti Coupe Concept is, according to one insider, a clear vision of what the next-generation G35 will look like when it replaces the current hot-selling version in late 2007 as a 2008 model. Expect V-6 power to remain, although horsepower should be in the 320-330 range. The next G35 sedan will be presented at the upcoming New York auto show and goes on sale this fall.

Bottom line: Our 2003 Car of the Year looks well positioned for its next round.

It’s the ultimate Golf. And probably the ultimate stealth weapon for the road. You need to know your Golfs to pick the 247-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 R32 from the regular four-cylinder GTI versions: the multispoke 18-inch alloys and bazooka-size exhaust pipes peeking out from under the center of the rear bumper are about the only visual clues to a 155-mph top speed and a 0-to-60-mph of about 6.0 seconds. The R32 has all-wheel drive, courtesy of a Haldex system that apportions torque to each wheel, and a six speed DSG automated manual tranny.

Bottom line: Looks like Clark Kent; goes like Superman.

Read the X here as a Roman numeral signifying that this is a thinly veiled concept, which portends the 10th Lancer Evolution, expected by the end of this year. Concept X’s jet-fighter-style nose, four-door-coupe roofline, big wing, and rear air exhausters look right for the job. Inside are four racing buckets, loads of aluminum trim, and a square-bottom steering wheel. Power continues to come from a 2.0-liter intercooled turbo cranking out north of 300 horses, but the six-speed manual is automated with paddle shifters. Also new is a Super All Wheel Control system that adds active braking, steering, and roll control.

Bottom line: The line forms.

You’re looking at 80 to 90 percent of the 2008 production GT-R, according to Nissan design chief Shiro Nakamura. A V-8 was rumored, but we hear that’s out in favor of a highly tuned twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, driving the rear wheels or, perhaps, with all-wheel drive. The Proto’s front end is a bit “conceptual,” which means it needs a real-world front bumper and headlamps. The 2008 model launching in late 2007 will be the first GT-R sold in left- and right-hand-drive versions and will be officially imported to the U.S. this time around.

Conventional wisdom holds that only the Europeans and Japanese can build credible small cars. So in a bid to challenge that wisdom, Dodge‘s new small car–to be sold in Europe–is an unconventional replacement for the unlamented Neon sedan. For a start, the Caliber is a five-door hatch, although these have never been popular sellers in the U.S. It’s also tall–some four inches taller than the Neon. But both attributes have allowed a roomy, versatile interior and tough, faux-SUV styling. The Caliber will be powered by new 1.8-, 2.0-, and 2.4-liter engines with 140 to 170 horses. AWD and a CVT transmission will be available, and the base model will price from $13,985, some $410 under Neon.

Bottom line: Could be a breakthrough for Dodge–and America.

It idles smoother and quieter than a garden-variety XLR. Only the 19-inch rolling stock, mesh front grille-work, stainless-steel tailpipes, and a discreet badge or two hint that this version of Cadillac‘s edgy two-seat roadster is different from others. But mash the throttle, and you’ll know it is: The intake tract moans, the supercharger whines, and the flapper valves in the mufflers open to let the exhaust breathe free. Oh, and there’s another indicator: The speedometer needle will pass the “60” mark in 4.5 seconds.

Cadillac appears serious about its “v-Series” performance sub-brand, and why not: AMG and M have worked like charms for Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Brewing up high-powered versions of mainstream models isn’t a new idea. But it is a smart one that adds brand value and exclusivity, sells more cars, and pleases enthusiast drivers and lead-footed car-magazine geeks. Like us.

Click here to read more about this Future Shock 2006 Cadillac XLR-V article.

Four-hundred and seventy-five horsepower. That’s the “450-plus” Ford SVT has squeezed out of the supercharged 32-valve 5.4-liter engine that’ll go in the Shelby on sale this summer. Look closely and you’ll find a Roots-type blower, rear wheels wider than the fronts, a Tremec T56 six-speed manual, Brembo brakes, a leather instrument panel cover, aluminum interior trim, and a speedo and tach reversed from the quotidian Mustang. The convertible is less than 125 pounds heavier than the coupe, so performance won’t be diminished much. The top itself is high-grade cloth, not vinyl. Perhaps Chevy might reconsider a droptop Z06?

Bottom line: Now you can go topless when you’re chasing the Z06 and BMW M3.

No otherautomotive brand says “suave” like Jaguar. Say the following sentence out loud: “Shall we pop over to your bungalow in my Jag?” Notice how you instantly sound like Cary Grant?

With its new 2007 XK Coupe and Convertible, though, the British maker wants to do more than charm the ascots off the country-club set–it wants to strike fear into BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Porsche‘s 911 is venerable–is it also vulnerable? Like the Aston Martin V-8 Vantage, the aluminum-intensive, mid-engine R8 is designed to take on the 911. On sale in spring 2007 and based on the Le Mans quattro concept (shown), the R8 will come in many variations, launching with a 4.2-liter FSI V-8 and a 500-plus horsepower, 5.2-liter V-10 based on the Lamborghini Gallardo’s engine (the R8 also uses the Lambo’s basic chassis). A 280-horse, 3.6-liter V-6 bows for 2009 and T-top versions launch in 2010. Transmissions are six-speed manual for all, a six-speed DSG for the V-6, and an optional seven-speed DSG for V-8 and V-10 models.

Bottom line:Audi backs up its sports-car cred with a true 911-fighter.

Audi’s new TT coupe with the familiar half-dome roofline, to launch in 2006, will be followed by a convertible. We’re most intrigued with Audi’s plan to offer a third iteration: something resembling this funky two-door hatchback concept shown in Tokyo. Current drivetrains will fall in place: The 2.0-liter, 200-horse turbo four will be standard, and a 3.2-liter, 250-horse V-6 will be optional, both with Audi’s magic DSG double-clutch automated manual. High-output TTS and TTRS will follow in 2008, with the TTRS’s turbo 3.2-liter V-6 making up to 350 horses.

Bottom line: With the {{{Porsche Cayman}}} S and {{{BMW Z4}}} M-Coupe here one to two years ahead of the TTRS, will Americans yearn for yet another German hot-hatch?

It didn’t take long for the General to order more ammo for the standard 2.4-liter, 177-horse Solstice. Later this year, the 2007 Solstice GXP will house an all-new Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo-four making an even 260 horsepower. GM’s first direct-injection offering in North America, this represents GM’s highest specific-output engine ever, at 130 horses per liter. From spy photos, it’s not much changed outside, but with that kind of power on tap and a weight-to-power ratio (11.0 lb/hp) similar to a Mitsu Evo (11.5), the GXP just might be the poor man’s Corvette.

This futuristic silver seed, called Senku, just might be the next-generation Mazda RX. By the time some characteristics of this Tokyo show car make it to production, the name may be changed to Mazda RX-9. It’s a “four-seater rotary sports car for adults,” says Mazda, and its “features include an ultralong wheelbase, minimal overhangs, a unique floating appearance supported by large tires, a smoothly dignified shape devoid of all ornamentation, and large flying-wing electric-powered sliding doors.” Located between front and rear axles is the next-gen 13B-DI direct injection gasoline rotary engine with a hybrid unit.

Bottom line: From the 1995 RX-01 concept to RX-Evolv took four years, and another year for the production RX-8 to appear. Is this the 2009 RX-9?

Probably the worst kept secret in the automotive world is the coupe version of BMW’s Z4 roadster shown in Frankfurt. This concept is all but confirmed and is powered by the company’s new magnesium-alloy 3.0-liter inline-six that, in this application, produces 265 horsepowergood for a claimed 5.7-second 0-to-60-mph sprint. Spies have snapped obviously massaged M versions that indicate the M3’s high-output 3.2-liter, 333-horse six piped through larger dual tips. With its already rigid structure, unflappable suspension, and (finally) broadly appealing looks, the Coupe likely will make a larger blip in sales than the previous high-top sneaker Z3 Coupe.

Bottom line: A car that’s grown out of its awkward stage is ready for center stage.

Not since the 1995 model year has Mazda offered the egg-shaped front-drive MX-3 for sale in the U.S., but that might change in the next year or two. Once the best-kept sport-compact secret–regularly trouncing the higher-profile Miata in acceleration with its peppy 1.8-liter, 115-horsepower V-6–the MX-3 shows some signs of returning in this rear-drive Kabura concept. Styled at Mazda’s design center in California, the Kabura is powered by a small-displacement MZR inline-four (Miata) engine.

Bottom line: Intended to test the first-time-buyer waters with a fun-to-drive compact in the mid-teens to low-$20,000 range.

According to the latest data, the median home price in Miami-Dade County is $381,600. That figure may have been used in a great deal of sidewalk calculating as we drove a 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder through the streets of South Florida. “If I sell the house and buy that car, I’d still have maybe $181,000 left over for a one-bedroom condo…”

Whether you like its angular edginess–most think it’s smokin’ hot–the car has neck-snapping potential that should earn it the official endorsement of the Chiropractic Association…

Those expecting the usual evolutionary Porsche baby step in horsepower will be disappointed. From the 415 horses (SAE rated) in the 996 Turbo (the 993 Turbo had 400), the 997 now bumps against the Ferrari F430 with an upgrade to 473 horses–a 14-percent boost and just under seven percent more than the 444-horse 996 Turbo S.

Torque delivery from the reworked heroic 3.6-liter boxer-six also is improved, thanks to the new Variable Turbine Geometry turbochargers good for up to 17.4 psi boost. Movable vanes change the angle at which air blows on the turbines depending on engine speed and throttle position. Power builds sooner and more smoothly, while more torque is available across a wider rev band–all 457 pound-feet from the 997 Turbo can be accessed between 1950 and 5000 rpm. And with the Sport Chrono option, the overboost function allows 501 pound-feet of torque for 10-second spurts.

Size matters in the U.S., but bigger isn’t always better. How much extra have you recently spent to shrink your cell-phone, iPod, or laptop computer? Could small be the next big thing in cars, too? Last year, the boxy SynUS trucklet made the query while attempting to show that small could be tough, solid, and versatile. Ford is asking the question a second time this year with its stunning REFL3X concept. The REFL3X’s mission is to demonstrate that small can be sporty, fun, practical, and–here’s the tricky part–aspirational (that’s industry lingo for “profitable”).

The REFL3X shades about as much ground as does the boxy SynUS trucklet, but the stance and proportions are dramatically different and considerably more beautiful. Its wheelbase and length are B-class, but the width and track are one size larger, giving it a broad, stable appearance and (presumably) good poise on a twisty road. The cabin is set well back in the wheelbase, with a fast windshield, so the rear seat is forced back between the rear wheels where there isn’t enough width to comfortably accommodate two legal passengers. Instead, there’s a single broad seat vaguely resembling a papasan chair that can accommodate one adult with legs astride the center console and hump, or a single rear-facing child seat, or two front-facing kiddie chairs–just the rig for hip, hard-driving, fun-loving parents of small tots. There’s even a ceiling-mounted spy cam to monitor the kids on a display in the front seat…

Click here to read more about this Future Shock Ford Refl3x Concept article.

Based on the underappreciated 2006 Eclipse coupe, the 2007 Spyder will provide yet another way to enjoy the Mitsu’s potent powertrains and fourth-generation organic/ futurist styling. In fact, thanks to an available V-6 and true 2+2 seating, the Spyder will be in a class almost by itself. Both current Eclipse coupe trim levels will carry over to the droptop: a 162-horse four-cylinder GS and a 263-horse V-6 GT. Due to the exhaust particulars in the convertible’s chassis, the Spyder’s V-6 loses three horsepower compared with the coupe’s, but there’s more than enough power to blow your hair back on the way to six-second blast to freeway speeds.

Bottom Line: If past sales are any indication, the 2007 Spyder should account for about a third of Eclipse sales.

Bearing the same name as the Greek goddess of sunrise, the VW Eos‘s calling card is a five-section roof that can transform the two-door from sexy convertible to stylish coupe in just 25 seconds. When closed, the roof offers a large, sliding sunroof for some open-air pleasure without full exposure to the elements. Based on the Passat, the Eos can accommodate four adults in comfort, making it a direct competitor to the new Volvo C70. When U.S. sales begin this summer, the Eos will offer the Passat’s four- and six-cylinder engine options, with base pricing estimated at $28,000 to $33,000.

Bottom Line: Remember when converts had plastic rear windows? How times have changed.

In the early 1970s, Volvo repackaged the cute-but-aged 1800 coupe into the 1800ES sportwagon and created a cult classic. The company brought the idea back with the SCC concept a year ago, which tells us much of what we need to know about the upcoming C30. This attractive coupe/hatchback/wagon/thingy will appeal to young sporty types and compete against cars like the VW GTI and Audi A3. We doubt the concept’s glass roof will make production as shown, but the rest will resemble what you see here. Expect a variety of four and five cylinder engines and front or AWD.

Volvo has taken the Mercedes SL/{{{Cadillac XLR}}} retractable hardtop concept to new places. First, it brings the flexibility and convenience of this design to a much lower price point than those expensive roadsters. And it’s among the first one to package a retractable hardtop with four seats (the other being the VW Eos). The “70” moniker is a bit of puffery; it’s based on the same platform as the S40 sedan, but that’s no bad thing. Pininfarina helped engineer the top system, but the look was designed in house by Volvo. The C70 will be on the market by spring.

Crossover utility vehicles (CUVs?) with near-sport-sedan handling have been available since the beginning of the millennium. But the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, and Infiniti FX45 have yet to offer that all-important third-row mother-in-law/kid seat.

Audi breaks through that wall with the Q7, a crossover that complements its S8 uebersedan. The Q7 has coupelike styling, a claimed world-first gas-direct-injection V-8–the 350-horse, 325-pound-foot, 4.2-liter from the RS4–and room for up to seven people, most of them adults. It’s a longish 200.7 inches overall and rides on a 118.2-inch wheelbase. The V-8 has been tuned for more torque in the Q7 than in the RS4, but still zings to 7200 rpm. A six-speed automatic with Tiptronic paddle controls will be the only transmission for all engine options…

Over a year after presenting the MX-Crossport concept at the 2005 Detroit auto show, Mazda delivers the production version–dubbed CX-7–just in time for spring shopping. The CX-7 is Mazda’s first crossover vehicle, and it promises to be a sporty one, thanks to a turbo 244-horsepower, 2.3-liter four, a six-speed automatic, 18-inch wheels, and an available Active Torque-Split all-wheel-drive system. While Brady Bunch households won’t be drawn to the two-row, five-seat configuration, active families will find solace in the 60/40-split rear seat, 58.6 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, and standard ABS, stability control, and traction control.

Bottom line: Mazda injects a dose of zoom-zoom into the crossover segment.

The 2007 MKX won’t be a luxo version of the Ford Explorer, as the Aviator was, but switches to the Fusion sedan’s unibody architecture, which also underpins the new Ford Edge crossover. The MKX (concept version shown) will be powered by FoMoCo’s fresh 250-horse, 3.5-liter V-6 and the new 6F six-speed automatic codeveloped with GM. Ford designed the new V-6 to accommodate direct injection and turbocharging and the six-speed to handle up to 300 horses and 280 pound-feet of torque.

The all-new LR2, replacement to Freelander, is scheduled for late 2006/early 2007. Land Rover concedes the current Freelander isn’t a good fit for America (too small, too weak, and doesn’t even come equipped with items such as seat height adjusters). Thus, the forthcoming LR2, to be built on Ford’s C Plus platform, will be much roomier (only a four-door this time around), more luxurious (LR2 will serve as a gateway to LR3), and more potent (insiders tell us a Volvo I-6 and a low range for improved off-roadability).

Bottom line: Way more than a just a name change.

With just two rows of seats, but plenty of cargo space and AWD, the Edge is a poor man’s Lexus RX 330. It shares its CD3 crossover platform with the new Lincoln MKX and a three-bar grille with the Fusion sedan. But the Edge uses a 250-horse, 3.5-liter six and a six-speed automatic producing what Ford claims will be best-in-class acceleration and fuel economy.

Bottom line: A more economical Explorer could save FoMoCo.

The Escalade is more than an SUV: It’s a pop-culture celebrity, having strutted in hip-hop videos, starred in “The Matrix: Reloaded,” whisked professional athletes to and from their games, and in 2004 it was even the top-mentioned brand (41 times) in Billboard’s Top 20 singles, according to San Francisco ad agency Agenda. Yet moms and “normals” are just as enamored of the Escalade. So how will Cadillac ensure the continued, pan-demographic appeal of the redesigned GMT900-based model, on sale in the first quarter of 2006? Here’s a look at some of the best features of the next-gen ‘Slade.

The elongated Escalade (by 21 inches) receives the plush luxury of the standard model, but benefits from a whopping 9.5 inches more legroom in the third row and additional space for cargo–more than 137 cubic feet behind the first row (with rear seats folded down) and 45.8 behind the seventh and eighth riders. Engine and transmission are the same as the Escalade’s, with increases of 58 horsepower, 37 pound-feet of torque, and two gears compared with the outgoing model. In addition, new ESVs offer a DVD entertainment system for third-row passengers. On sale first quarter of 2006.

The granddaddy SUV brand will celebrate its 65th anniversary with the launch of four all-new models, bringing the Jeep range to seven vehicles–the largest in the nameplate’s history–including a reworked version of its iconic Wrangler. “Our customers wanted more. More of everything,” say Jeep insiders when asked to describe the philosophy behind the reinvention of the Wrangler. Under the hood is a new 3.8-liter V-6 with 205 horsepower. The wheelbase has been extended 2.0 inches and the track 3.5 to improve ride and handling as well as interior room.The increase in size hasn’t hurt the Wrangler’s off-road capability: In fact, the 2007 Wrangler boasts approach and departure angles of better than 40 degrees and a ramp-breakover angle of better than 25 degrees.

Top-of-the-range Rubicons boast locking front and rear differentials and a front anti-roll bar that can be decoupled to improve axle articulation. Anti-lock brakes and stability control with rollover-mitigation software are standard, as are power windows and door locks.

Bottom Line: Purists needn’t fear the Wrangler is going soft: Quick-change connections mean you can still take the doors off.

The Patriot is the Compass’s tougher brother. Although it shares its carlike architecture and platform with the Compass, the Patriot has more traditional Jeep styling cues. It’ll be powered by a 170-horse version of Chrysler‘s new four-cylinder “world engine,” and Jeep insists there’ll be a trail-rated version of the Patriot. Claimed approach angle is 28 degrees, ramp-breakover is 21 degrees, and departure angle is 30 degrees-respectable enough. Hill Descent Control will be available, and an accessible CVT transmission will offer a low range with a 19:1 crawl ratio.

Bottom Line: With prices set to start under Wrangler’s, insiders are already calling the Patriot the “most affordable classic Jeep.”

A 20-inch-wheelbase stretch over the standard Wrangler means there’s room aboard the most iconic of all Jeeps for five passengers and their luggage. Rear-seat legroom has been improved by four inches compared with the current Wrangler Unlimited’s, but, more important, there’s 46 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats-more than in a Ford Explorer. The longer wheelbase and increased vehicle mass give the four-door a higher towing capacity than the standard Wrangler’s. Look for it at the New York auto show.

Bottom Line: Such a no-brainer you wonder why Jeep hasn’t done it earlier.

Make no mistake: This is the most controversial vehicle ever to carry the fabled Jeep name. Aimed primarily at urban driversespecially womenthe Compass is built on the same unibody platform as the new Dodge Caliber. That means a transversely mounted four-cylinder engine. It’ll have all-wheel drive, however, and the ride height will be two inches higher than that of the Caliber. But the Compass is primarily an on-road Jeep that’s aimed at similar soft-roaders such as Chevy Equinox and Ford Escape.

Bottom Line: Bold styling and that charismatic name could make it a winner.

In simple terms, the Dodge Nitro is a reworked Jeep Liberty (it’ll be built alongside the Liberty at Jeep’s Toledo, Ohio, plant) but with unique styling and product attributes that give Dodge a play in the SUV market without stepping on Jeep’s turf. Key to the Nitro package is a four-inch stretch in the wheelbase over the Liberty, which means two inches more rear-seat legroom and two inches more cargo space behind the rear seats. Topline models will get a 4.0-liter V-6 with 45 more horsepower than the base 3.7 Dodge currently uses. Although an SUV, the Nitro will be more biased toward the blacktop a high-performance SRT version is already under development.

Mercedes’s first sport/utility tried to cover all bases: optional third row, low range, body-on-frame for towing, etc. Its replacement leaves the heavy lifting to this new GL-Class. The Alabama-built trucks share front doors and most structure ahead of the B-pillar, behind which the GL stretches a foot longer. At 200 inches, it’s about as long as an Escalade but narrower and lower. With a 335-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8, the GL can tow 7500 pounds and carry 83 cubic feet of stuff–down 600 pounds and 22 cubes from the Caddy. But an optional low range, center- and rear-diff-locks, and a foot of ground clearance will take a GL way farther off-road.

Bottom line: With a base price in the $60,000s, this big Benz might just outflash the Escalade.

In-house Benz tuner AMG is heading in a new direction with its latest SUV offering, deriving heroic power and torque not from blowers, but from a deep-breathing high-rev engine. The AMG-designed DOHC 32-valve V-8 wrings a Z06-like 503 horsepower and 465 pound-feet from 6208 cc of displacement. This thrust is funneled to all four wheels through a new seven-speed auto with steering-wheel shift buttons. The vented and slotted brakes and Airmatic suspension have been starched for supertruck duty, rolling on 19- or 20-inch wheels. Priced near $70K, it should hit 60 mph in under five seconds.

Suzuki’s {{{Grand Vitara}}} and XL7 part company this fall. The seven-seater moves off the GV’s rear/four-wheel-drive ladder frame and onto GM’s front/all-wheel-drive unibody Theta platform. The Equinox’s 112.5-inch wheelbase underpins unique bodywork that stretches 7.9 inches longer to accommodate the third-row seat, 9.3 inches longer than the old XL-7 and more than eight inches longer than the Honda Pilot. Power is rumored to come from a Suzuki-built version of GM’s refined high-feature 240-horse, 3.6-liter V-6.

Bottom Line: Suzuki may be ready to carve itself a sizeable slice of the burgeoning seven-seat crossover market.

Hyundai continues its relentless march upsize and upscale with the {{{2007 Santa Fe}}}, which will be built alongside the Sonata in Alabama starting this summer. Power will come from a choice of V-6s displacing 2.7 or 3.3 liters producing 186 or 238 horses. Front drive is standard, an optional electronic all-wheel-drive system can be locked for 50/50 torque distribution. Outside, the new Santa Fe looks more grown up, with a vaguely Honda Pilotesque facade and traces of Infiniti FX around back. Expect pricing to undercut the Highlander’s by a couple grand with nearly the same refinement.

Chrysler aims to cash in on the urban-chic big-glitz market currently owned by the Escalade and Navigator by taking a {{{Dodge Durango}}}, troweling on extra chrome (including optional dubs), adding features, and reviving the 1970s moniker “Aspen.” Only one trim level will be offered with 4.7- or 5.7-liter V-8 power and rear drive. All-wheel drive or two-speed four-wheel drive will be available, as will quad-command buckets with leather and suede upholstery. Aspen will undercut the Caddy and Lincoln in size and price when it hits the streets this fall–figure mid-30s to open, high-40s fully pimped.

Bottom line: This is the vehicle Snoop Dogg should be helping Iacocca pitch.

Once a Subaru-Forester clone, Mitsubishi’s Outlander is moving up to square off against big-volume players like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape. For 2007, the cute ‘ute grows nearly two inches in wheelbase and width, and 3.7 inches in length, measuring within an inch or so of the big-brand rivals. A 217-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 mates to a six-speed automatic and spins the front or all four wheels. Premium features like stability control, optional navigation, and rear-seat DVD entertainment set the Outlander apart, as does a clever hatch/tailgate design in back.

Bottom line: It’s quite possibly Mitsubishi’s most competitive offering this side of the Evo.

Acura is poised to do battle with such entry-lux ‘utes as BMW’s X3, Rover’s Freelander, and the forthcoming Mercedes MLK-Class. The {{{2007 RDX}}} will be built in Ohio, starting this summer, alongside the Civic it shares some structural DNA with. Pricing will slot in between Honda’s CR-V and Acura’s MDX–figure $28-30K for starters.

How could the locomotive, a mode of transportation that rocked the world 200 years ago, be the inspiration for Ford’s latest concept vehicle? Trains have been powered by steam, diesel, turbine, and hybrid, as have automobiles, and might provide ideas for new ways to power cars and trucks as resources change. From those ideas came Ford’s F-250 Super Chief, which made its debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Styling is where the Super Chief most emulates its namesake. The front end is dominated by an intimidating grille, and the streamlined body leads to a smooth, side-hinged tailgate. The suicide doors enter into Spinneybeck leather easy chairs with ottomans that pop up from the floor. The warm-toned cabin is paneled in American walnut, with brown leather and brushed-aluminum accents. The walnut floor, each plank separated by aluminum strips, runs from the firewall to the tailgate. And, as in an observation car, the roof is glass, with walnut and leather running the length of the cab.

Powering the concept is a supercharged 6.8-liter V-10 that can run on gasoline, an alcohol blend up to E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gas), or even hydrogen. The Tri-Flex system uses the standard 38-gallon fuel tank for gasoline or E85, plus three separate high-pressure tanks in which the hydrogen is stored. The V-10’s 310-horse/425 pound-foot output drops to 280/400 when operating solely on hydrogen.

This probably won’t be the next Super Duty. However, this powertrain would represent an expensive baby step toward a hydrogen economy and ultralow emissions. Safe to say the cabin and body are mere design studies at this point. But after seeing what a pickup’s interior could be, who wouldn’t want a truck inspired by a train?

While not all the information is in yet, the all-new Tundra should go on sale in time for the 2007 model year. Expect the high build quality Toyota’s known for and a truck that’s packed with functionality. The new model will be larger than the current pickup–likely bigger than the F-150–and will come with different cab choices and competitive powertrains. There’s even been talk of a hybrid option and the possibility of a diesel engine. Different cab layouts will probably launch in a staggered schedule–the double cab should arrive at dealerships some time after the extended-cab version.

Bottom line: Tundra finally becomes a true full-size truck.

The all-new, 2007 Explorer Sport Trac shares much of its platform and technology with the current Explorer SUV, which Ford redesigned last year. Thanks to almost 17 inches of added wheelbase compared with the previous model’s, the Sport Trac boasts a 4.3-foot-long composite bed and crew-cab pickup-type seating for five adults.

The biggest improvements this year are the all-new reinforced frame and four-wheel independent suspension. The new IRS, attacking corners and banked turns with significantly more confidence and composure, is far superior to the two-generation-old live-axle/leaf-spring setup on the previous Sport Trac. Add Control Trac, Advance Trac, and roll-stability software programs to help keep all four wheels safely on the ground (plus front, side, and curtain airbags in case they don’t), and you have a fine, practical solution for those who want SUV feel with pickup-truck style.

Since introducing the Camry sedan in Japan in 1980, Toyota has sold more than 10 million worldwide, with over 6.5 million snapped up in the United States, the world’s single largest market for the model. Last year, alone, Toyota sold more than 400,000 of the family freighter, making it the best-selling passenger car in the U.S. for the eighth time in the last nine years.

Never an automaker to rest on its laurels, Toyota will attempt to make 2006 another best-selling year for the Camry, and it’ll likely succeed due to the introduction of the all-new iteration you see on these pages. Now in its sixth generation, the 2007 Camry line includes the most powerful version ever as well as the most fuel-efficient example to date. Plus, the new family comes with more standard equipment than ever before and offers the most trim levels yet, now totaling five…

In 1960, the things you could do with the original pint-size Mini suddenly became a lot more interesting with the introduction of its lengthened variations, the Austin Seven Countryman and stablemate Mini Traveller. Well, it’ll be deja vu all over again when the revamped new Mini gets the Traveller stretched-taffy treatment late in 2007, adding about eight inches in length and perhaps even a few of the show version’s trick details. Likely to appear are the concept car’s multiconfigurable cargo hold and split rear doors instead of a hatch; but don’t bet on its B-pillarless roof support and the complexly hinged side doors.

Expect a larger (2.3 inches in length), slightly more upmarket Sentra to bow in the fall of 2006. Already delayed due to a frosty reaction from focus groups, what’ll ultimately appear is expected to be visually more akin to the Altima’s bearing, though smaller in scale and softer in appearance. Standard power will come from an all-new 135-horse 2.0-liter engine meshed with either a six-speed manual transmission or Nissan’s Xtronic CVT automatic. The price is likely to rise, too, expected to start at about $15,000. But given the dimensional growth and greater sophistication of Honda’s rival Civic, Nissan’s hand is no doubt being forced by the same upmarketing pressures.

Nissan will introduce a new name in its small-car roster–Versa. Stealing underpinnings from Nissan’s home-market tiida, the Versa will appear in two guises, a five-door hatch or four-door sedan, powered by a 120-horse,1.8-liter four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed manual, a four-speed auto, or an available CVT. Inside, the conservatively styled dashboard will offer plenty of infotainment hardware, including available bluetooth connectivity and a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer. Externally, the sedan’s rump looks a bit frumpy, while its face is–shall we say–notably gallic.

Bottom line: Can the Versa fill the small-car vacuum left by the upsized Sentra?

The brand GM kept when it killed merry old Oldsmobile might finally justify its sparing. The Aura, which replaces the L-Series sedan, emerges from a stretched version of the Epsilon platform that also underpins the Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Malibu. More important, though, the Epsilon’s bones are additionally shared with Opel’s excellent Vectra and Saab’s nifty 9-3, and Saturn worked closely with the German group during the Aura’s development. Powered by a 3.6-liter, 250-horse V-6 and shifted by a six-speed transmission, the replacement for Saturn’s old anonymous sedan is stylish, bathed in leather and cool gauge lighting.

Bottom line: Could it be the bad-old days, when Saturn’s competition ran rings around it, are truly over?

Click here to check out more photos in the 2007 Saturn Aura Photo Gallery!

Insiders insist Hyundai’s all-new rear-drive Dynasty isn’t coming to the U.S. But don’t bet against rear-drive Hyundais appearing here sooner than you think. The Korean automaker is aggressively chasing growth in the U.S., and if it sees an opportunity to take on Chrysler 300 and the rumored rear-drive Chevys using the Dynasty architecture, it will.

Bottom line: Look out, GM.

The 2007 Sebring (and Dodge Stratus) will be built atop Mitsu’s superlative little sedan platform (although sans AWD and employing Chrysler power). It’ll include a convertible version, possibly with a folding hardtop. Further, it’s suspected the Stratus version may even emerge as a five-door hatchback.

Bottom line: Although Daimler/Chrysler recently gave Mitsubishi the cold shoulder when asked for desperately needed cash last year, it appears business can still make for estranged bedfellows.

Honda’s new sub-Civic entry is due this spring. The U.S. version is expected to be a mild tweaking of the present Fit/Jazz sold elsewhere on the planet.The four-door hatchback will be propelled by a 1.5-liter, 109-horse VTEC engine offering upward of 48 mpg. Also expect a sport version (featuring a paddle-shift auto transmission, aero kit, and 15-inch wheels).

So Maybach continues to work on its identity crisis. You know, the one its 63-year absence in the market, beginning in 1939, created, and which the Maybach-like 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has fostered. No one mistakes Rolls-Royce Phantoms or Bentley Continentals for anything else.

Maybach’s latest therapy comes in the form of a sport package, of sorts, although it’s not badged an AMG model. It pins a unique nose on the short-wheelbase 57 model and adds 62 horses, 20-inch 11-spoke wheels, 0.6-inch-lower ride height, thicker anti-roll bars, and a stiffened Airmatic suspension. The 57 S also has a perforated leather steering wheel, “piano black” and carbon-fiber interior accents, available Vesuvius black or Aspen white super-supple leather seats with decorative piping, and body-color panels in the headlamps’ background. The car’s headliner and interior side paneling is anthracite-colored Alcantara to complement the piano black and carbon-fiber trim…

After a five-year hiatus, the Azure name is back, once again adorning a Bentley flagship convertible. Inspired by the Arnage Drophead Coup concept revealed at the 2005 Los Angeles auto show, the Azure utilizes the rigid body structure and control-arm suspension from the Arnage sedan. Power comes from the Arnage Ts twin-turbocharged V-8, which produces 450 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. To lighten and stiffen the body, Bentley fitted the Azure with carbon-fiber underfloor cross braces, a welcome addition that helps accommodate the Azures three-layer fabric roof. At the flip of a switch, the roof stows under a leather-trimmed tonneau in under 30 seconds.

Bottom line: The Bentley Azure costs more than a quarter mil, but cruising South Beach never felt so good.

Measuring 0.2 inch longer and 0.3 inch taller than the Continental GT coupe, the GTC 2+2 convertible is arguably the world’s most luxurious 190-mph hair dryer. To bask in warm air, simply lower the GTC’s fully automated, electro-hydraulic-operated fabric roof, which stows securely under a leather-covered tonneau. Propulsion is provided by the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W-12, ZF six-speed Tiptronic automatic, and all-wheel-drive system found in the GT coupe, a combination that should net a sub-5.0-second 0-to-60 time. The GTC will go on sale in late 2006, priced at around $180,000, or about $20,000 on top of a GT.

Bottom line: A leather-lined way to revel in 552 horses.

The Corniche, a two-door convertible based on the 100EX concept from the 2004 Geneva show, will go on sale in 2007, underpinned by a shortened version of the Phantom’s aluminum space frame. The Phantom will also donate its 6.75-liter V-12 and six-speed automatic. Sources indicate the Corniche’s styling theme signals that of the future S-Class-fighting, “small” Rolls. Like the 100EX, the Corniche will feature rear-hinged doors, and, say insiders, a wood tonneau cover is likely–and will give new meaning to the word “land yacht.” Speaking of yachts, the Corniche will command yacht-like exclusivity–figure a couple hundred a year, with bids opening at around $400,000.

Bottom line: The ultimate vessel for sailing Rodeo Drive.

Lexus gets even more aggressive with the new LS, on sale fall 2006 in short- and long-wheelbase versions, like the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series. While some will still find its styling a bit sterile, the LS has a reputation for having all the luxury and gadgetry of the German brands, without their reliability problems.

The LS 460 has a 4.6-liter V-8 with an expected 350 horsepower, a seven-speed automatic, and optional all-wheel drive. The LS 600h bows in late 2007 with a hybrid V-8 said to provide the power of a 6.0-liter and the fuel economy of a six.

Bottom line: Is it possible to get even more perfect?

Blurring the frosty German landscape at an indicated 270 kph (168 mph) in a 2007 Audi S8 proved an exercise in noise. Not road or wind noise, mind you, but rather a grating clatter courtesy of AC/DC and the S8’s optional $7800, 1100-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system, whose 14 aluminum-grille-covered speakers glitter the cabin.

Underhood, however, is where the real wattage lies. Borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo and tweaked just right, the S8’s 5.2-liter V-10 engine is an aluminum jewel that weighs in at just 485 pounds–44 pounds less than the M5’s V-10–yet produces 450 horses and 398 pound-feet. From Gallardo to S8, the V-10 has undergone myriad modifications, most notable a bump from 4961 to 5204 cc and the implementation of direct fuel injection. Power dips 63 ponies compared with the Lambo V-10, but torque rises 22 pound-feet. Other alterations include a higher compression ratio–12.5:1 compared with 11.0:1–and a less frenetic 7000-rpm redline, compared with the Lambo’s 8100. Mated to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the S8’s V-10 matches the pony total of another Audi monster, the 6.0-liter W-12…

I was semireclined, not unlike the driving position in an F1 car, as electric motors whirred and the Birdcage 75’s giant glass canopy closed down over me. Although I couldn’t see any of the car’s corners, the view was otherwise as panoramic as an F-16’s cockpit. So this is what it’s like to be inside a flying saucer.

The breathtaking standout of last year’s Geneva auto show, the Birdcage is Pininfarina’s way of celebrating its own 75th birthday as one of Italy’s premier design houses and coachbuilders. Why not a Ferrari, with whom Pininfarina is most often identified? “We did a Ferrari concept a few years ago,” notes passionately well-spoken Paolo Pininfarina, president and CEO and a member of the family’s third generation. “We are currently working on an entirely new model range for Maserati, so we thought, ‘Why not them?’ More correctly, the 75 is the result of a three-way partnership between us, Maserati, and Motorola, who provided the communications and driver-interface technology.”…